Chapter 10
The next morning, Charlotte stood tall on the deck of a fishing boat—one of the three old pirate ships that had been hastily converted for their current expedition. The salty sea breeze ruffled his dark hair as the vessel slowly slipped out of the harbor, leaving behind the familiar outlines of the port city.
A dozen young crewmates, boys skilled in sailing and eager to prove themselves, had volunteered to man the boat once word spread that Charlotte was heading out to hunt Neptunes. Their youthful faces were lit with excitement and nervous energy, buzzing with the thrill of adventure.
Charlotte's eyes scanned the horizon, his senses sharp and alert. Though the sea was calm this morning, he knew better than to underestimate the dangers lurking beneath.
"Captain! There's a ship up ahead!" one of the boys shouted suddenly from the bow.
Charlotte's gaze snapped toward the pointed finger. Closing his eyes for a brief moment, he tapped into the sharp instincts honed from years at sea. Slowly, a mental image formed in his mind—a silhouette of a ship cutting across the vast blue, far enough away to remain a mystery.
Interesting. Only an hour had passed since they left the port, yet there was already another vessel in sight. The question was simple: friend or foe? Merchant or pirate?
Before he could ponder further, the sharp crack of cannon fire tore through the air, shattering the morning's calm.
"Of course it's pirates," Charlotte muttered, opening his eyes and narrowing them against the sunlight.
Shells whistled toward them, but the enemy gunners were clearly off-target. Cannonballs splashed harmlessly into the water around the boat, sending up huge sprays of seawater.
Still, the young sailors started to panic.
"Keep your heads! I'm here!" Charlotte's voice rang out with authority, cutting through the chaos like a blade.
The boys steadied themselves, looking at him with renewed confidence.
"You steer the ship—leave the pirates to me," Charlotte ordered, his tone calm but firm.
Without hesitation, he stepped forward, body coiled like a spring. As the next cannonball arced through the air, Charlotte launched a punch straight through it.
Bang!
The cannonball exploded midair in a spectacular burst, shards of molten metal raining harmlessly around him.
The sailors erupted in cheers.
"Boss, you're incredible!" one of them exclaimed, eyes wide with admiration.
Across the water, the pirates on the enemy ship grew uneasy.
"Captain, that kid's no joke!" one sailor called out, squinting through his telescope.
"Don't be afraid! We have numbers! Show him who's boss!" the pirate captain barked, gripping the wheel tightly.
The pirate ship veered closer, readying for boarding.
Charlotte smiled, a spark of excitement igniting in his chest. His first worry—their cannon barrage—had been handled. Now it was time for close combat.
"Stay calm. I'll deal with them," he said, voice steady.
Using the Moon Step technique he had mastered during his time in the Navy's Sixth Form—short bursts of rapid, graceful movement—Charlotte launched himself toward the enemy ship.
He landed lightly on the deck, silent and deadly.
The pirate captain whirled around, startled by the sudden appearance of a lone young man amidst his crew.
"You! Who are you?" the captain demanded, eyes narrowing.
Charlotte gave a cold, confident smile. "Aren't you the pirates?"
Before the captain could react, Charlotte's fist shot forward in a brutal punch that connected squarely with the man's jaw.
Bang!
The captain crumpled to the deck, stunned.
"Get them!" he roared, clutching his bleeding face.
But Charlotte was already in motion, fists flying faster than the pirates could follow.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
One by one, the pirates collapsed like ragdolls—chests crushed, heads smashed. Not a single attacker managed to land a blow.
The captain scrambled backward, horror in his eyes.
Charlotte stepped in front of him and delivered a final crushing blow.
Bang!
The pirate captain's head snapped back, lifeless on the deck.
Charlotte looked down at the bloodied corpse, feeling a cold chill ripple through him.
Since when did I become this ruthless? Not a single one left alive...
He turned to the remaining crew.
"Bring a smaller fishing boat alongside," he ordered.
The sailors obeyed, eyes wide as they watched their boss wave the other boat over.
"Stack the bodies on deck," Charlotte instructed. "We'll use them to lure the sea kings."
Better to attract the beasts to them than wander blindly through this endless ocean.
"Understood!" the sailors replied, nervous but determined.
Charlotte then made his way to the captain's cabin, hoping to find something valuable.
Inside, amid scattered papers and empty bottles, he discovered a small treasure chest.
Could it be a devil fruit?
His heart pounded as he wrestled the chest open.
Inside lay a detailed blueprint—a map of some kind.
A treasure map, perhaps?
He studied the intricate drawings carefully. The location was unfamiliar, but the craftsmanship was unmistakable.
"Well, I'll hold onto this for now. Maybe it'll lead somewhere," Charlotte decided.
Among other things, he found several bounty posters listing rewards for various pirates.
"Ha! A pirate with only a 100 Bailey bounty dares to act so arrogantly?" Charlotte scoffed.
And beneath it all, nearly 600 million Bailey in gold and coins.
This haul would definitely fund the next stage of their journey.
Suddenly, a crewmate shouted from the deck.
"Boss! Tons of sea kings spotted!"
"How many?" Charlotte asked, his senses stretching wide across the water.
His eyes widened in alarm. This was no small group.
"Have we stumbled into a sea king's nest?" he wondered, hurrying back onto the deck.
The water churned violently as massive beasts circled the ship.
"Quick! Toss the bodies overboard to attract them. Then get us out of here—fast!" Charlotte commanded urgently.
The sailors scrambled to obey, hands shaking but moving quickly.
"Boss, the sea kings are blocking our path!" the helmsman called out, fear thick in his voice.
Charlotte drew his long sword, eyes blazing with determination.
"This battle for survival at sea… it's only just begun."
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